Feds toss complaint on Indian mascots

Cheboygan Area Schools Superintendent Mark Dombroski said he is pleased with a federal decision dealing with the school’s nickname and mascot.

By Richard Croftonrichard@cheboygantribune.com

Cheboygan Area Schools Superintendent Mark Dombroski said he is pleased with a federal decision dealing with the school’s nickname and mascot.Last week, the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights denied a claim by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights that 35 schools in the state were discriminating Native Americans and hurting those students’ self-esteem and learning.“It is great news for us,” Dombroski said. “Two months ago, 30 out of the 35 schools set up a consortium to share legal expenses to fight this.”In the federal ruling, officials said Michigan officials provided no specific examples of racial incidents or American Indian students suffering specific harm because of the reported discrimination.“It is definitely a sense of pride for us,” Dombroski said in February when the matter came to light. “The Chiefs became the mascot in 1889, or shortly thereafter and it has been that way ever since. The mascot is held in the highest esteem.”On Monday, Dombroski reiterated the same sentiments said even the Native American groups were asking questions.“They wanted to know how they were being hurt,” he said. “They do extremely well in our system.”